Three critical safety failures that led to worker losing fingers
A worker lost fingers in a bakery incident in Christchurch, leading to a $200,000 fine for the company due to lockout/tagout and risk assessment failures.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by WorkSafe New Zealand.
Incident Summary
A worker lost fingers in an incident at a commercial bakery in Christchurch in April 2023 after his hand was pulled into machine rollers.
The company admitted work health and safety failures and was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on 24 February 2026 to a fine of $200,000 and reparations of $45,500.
Court Decision
WorkSafe identified failures in lockout/tagout procedures, incomplete risk assessments that missed crushing risks during cleaning and maintenance, and gaps in training and supervision.
Inspector’s Comment
WorkSafe principal inspector Shaun Millar stated, "Lockout/tagout isn't optional. It's a fundamental safety control.
A tick‑box risk assessment is worse than useless because it creates a false sense of security.
This wasn't a freak accident. This was entirely preventable."
